Method of treating fruit-bearing trees and plants



Patented Julyfi, I v

- STATES '7 METHOD-or Tan er neFRUIT- ahama'rnn'nsnun-rranrs;- 7

NoDrawing;

My invention relates to a method ot/treating fruit bearing trees or shrubs; 1

Nature has devised a system of circulatlon inthefruit bearing'trees, which forces the sap from the" root system" through the.

cambium layer, thus supplying sustenance I and life to the tree. When this How of sap is retarded, to'any Considerable extent, nevidences itself 'lIl rough and'uneyen protrusv *sions in' the bark: These-protrusions are caused by the pentup or ret'ardedsap within the ,cambium layer.

comes sea-med with innumerable fissures,

throughwhichthe sap flows or escapes, and:

eventually, cankerous spots, and subsequently, festering sores appear. The'tips or' the branches of the tree become tardy-in producing leaves, :andthe fruit; decreases, in] number, as wellgas'. quality. and commercial? value the ife/of the tree is .endangered; r I 7' Some attempts have heretofore been made;

'a solution of this problem; The attempt consisted-in cuttingor wounding the bark sufiiciently to allow of expansion in its tissue. The bark or outer shell reaching from the ground to the crotch was slit longitudinally. However, as soon as this incision it frequently occurred that another healed, vhad tobe made, with the result that the. vi

tality of the tree was greatlytaxed, andthe' Y crop seriously injured.

' In accordance with my method, I propose to loosen the bark about the Cambium layer, to permit of the proper circulation of'the sap through the cambium layer, by a masting orcutting the same.. This massaging 4 treatment consists in striking upon the bark of the tree,.blows of suitable'iforce, without breakingor bruisingsaid bark; In carrying' out this treatment, Ifpreferablyemploy a stick about three feet long, and suitably stout, so'that a considerable blow m'ayibe given to the tree, by the operator hold ng the stick in the hand. The forward end of the stick which is to impinge'against the tree is coveredjwith some shock absorbing material, such as cloth, preferablythree layers of the s It frequently happens that-theba'rk below the" crotch, be

flApplication filed member's; asaqgseriai 11 ,605,702." 7

a The solution-whiehwl employ consists, of phosphoric acichavater' soluble potash 010- I tain'ed froinxthe ashes: of trees; andwater." i I preferably employone part byzweight"0i phosphoric acid, one part by weight of q pot ash i and seven; and onel a'ltparts by weight of" Water. These ngre'dientsfare thoroughly element carried; by the stick is dipped into the solution, and iasthe bark of the tree is struck withtheshock absorbing element, the;

cloth, is also adaptedito 1 liquid, which i's workedinto thebark 0f tree,i.during"the:massaging treatment.

mixed forming a solution. The absorbent' solution isbeaten into the bark of the tree. ,7

The strikingof the bark of the tree causes it-to bedepressetLbut when the blow is over, the bark springs voutfand it is this actionv or movement of the; bark, which loosens it; I s and relievesIthe V pressurei upon the same. The beatingfiior. rmassaginglrthe 'bark'se'rves to, thoroughly cleanse @the bark and all incisions or abra sions'and the solution passes through these from" the Cambium layer,

and all other available openings in thebark, and finds its way to the canibium ,layer. This solution is taken hp by the sap of; the tree and passes through the Icambium layer to the leaves, where it is converted into the tree tissue.

' It is preferred that this treatmentbe given to the tree early in March, followed by a second treatment three or four weeks later.

' i I have also found that bacterial. gummosis and all'incessant bleedings of fruit trees,

such as cherry trees, may be partly or wholly overcome and permanently healed by treat- I ment with'm'y solution. In cases ofgum V mosis, all diseased parts of the bark are cut out with the gum secretion, .by means of'a out are also massaged and the solution".

sharp chisel and mallet. The tree 'thenjhas" its bark massaged, by the beater,withthe solution carried by the absorbent element; "saging treatment to the bark, withoutslitquickly heals the wounded parts. As a result of this the pruning of the cherry tree, as

well as'other fruittrees, maybe followed 1 Y with beneficial results; v It is recognlzed that the thorough pruning and sprayingof fruit trees, now practiced,i$

of great advantage. However, mysolution,

if-applied as above'indlcated, hasimarked advantages. The solution innervates the *ca'mbium layer, andTinvigorates the tree. By

invigoratingthe tree the falling oi the fruit y is prevented toa considerable extent. solution lelso? thoroughly cleanses} the J body and limbs of the tree, removing fungus and vermin, leaving the barktender; pliable and .expansible. The yieldin fruit froni'the tree has been found-to increase inaterially.* Thefruit is found to be of a crisp, live texture, larger insize, havingsan almost transparent; skin, which partakes of a most decided coloring. It is vtoundr-thatr-a few days after treating thetree a's I-[haveabove indicated; a: bright gre'e'nrtinge: Willbe imparted; to the outer surface offthe bark ofthe tree, and all shell barlcwill have loosened'and fallen oiig; leaving the bark generally smooth; :Special attention must be paid, in massaging; to the irregular?- or discolored surface of the bark;

and-alluneven surfaces-must be thoroughly massaged, torbring themin accord With the rest of the bark.

I have found that; apple trees four years from planting,- are broughtinto vigorous production, when treated as abovementioned.

It is to beunderstoodthat the form of my invention; herewith described; istobetaken as a-"preferr'ed example'of: the same, andvari ous chan es ma be made in the order of the steps of; the" method, and that chemical, equivalents may. be employed,'- without cle-r parting from the-spirit or invention oi" the' scope of the subjoin'edxclaimss The 7 Having thus described ny invention; I c a m-1. fo

l. The hereindescribed method of treating fruit bearing trees or the like for in- 7 their growth and yield which consists in massaging thebark of the tree'bv subjecting: the sanie to the action of blows over substantiallytheentire' area- 7 thereof, such blows- Ter'vingto loosen the-bark; upon the cainbiuinr ayen V 3; The hereindescribed method. of treating fruit bearingtrees or the like for increasing their growth and yield, Which consists in 50 massagingr'thebarkiof the treefby subjecting.

the-same to the action offblovvs; injthe pres ence' of a solution adapted to serve as nutrition for the tree, suc'lrsolutionpenetrating? theba rh and passing; to the camb'ium layen 4'. The hereinde'scribed Inethodoftreating frnitrbearing trees'or thelike for improving their growth and-yield; which consists: in

beating a nutritioiistsolution into the bark of the tree and caiisiiigethe 'sa'me' to pass through the bark to 'the cambium" layer.

Intestimony whereof I' affix-my signature 'WIL IAM D; MOBEHOUSE, 

